Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was preventively detained this Saturday after authorities detected an attempt to break the electronic ankle monitor that was tracking his movements, allegedly to facilitate an escape during a demonstration organized in front of his home.

The information confirmed was by the Supreme Court, which ordered his immediate transfer to facilities Police.

Attempted escape amid a protest

According to the arrest warrant, signed by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur for the coup attempt case, the sensors of the monitoring device registered a “violation of the electronic equipment” at 00:08 local time. The magistrate indicated that the crowd gathered in front of the former president's residence, convened by his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, would have created the ideal conditions for Bolsonaro to attempt to escape.

De Moraes maintained that the protest sought to interfere with the monitoring of the house arrest that the former president has been serving since August 4, after multiple violations of precautionary measures. In his opinion, the gathering represented a direct risk to public order and the effectiveness of the criminal process.

Concern over past escapes in his inner circle

The Supreme Court recalled that several of Bolsonaro's allies, prosecuted or convicted for coup-plotting acts, have managed to leave the country. Among them are Eduardo Bolsonaro and the former head of Intelligence Alexandre Ramagem, who left Brazil clandestinely through Roraima bound for the United States. These precedents have increased the authorities' concern about a possible escape attempt by the former president.

A historic sentence

On September 11, Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for leading a coup plot aimed at remaining in power after losing the 2022 elections to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. However, the preventive detention carried out this Saturday does not mark the formal start of his sentence. The execution of the sentence was scheduled for the coming weeks, once the initial appeals were rejected.

The purpose of the preventive detention

The Federal Police requested preventive detention to guarantee the stability of the proceedings and prevent further escape attempts. According to the Supreme Court, it was necessary to act to “guarantee public order” and prevent the former president from taking advantage of any mobilization of his supporters to evade justice.